preheat oven to 180cheat together water, butter, caster sugar and syrup in a saucepan, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 5 mins. remove from heat and cool

mix together the milk, vanilla and bicarb, stir constantly to dissolve......alternatively pour the syrup mix and milk in the the flour mixture, beating well after each addition

fill each baking cup with the batter so they are no more than 2/3 full and bake them in the oven for 25 mins until they are firm to touchleave the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack